Sculpting the Elephant is about connecting across cultures. Thank you Prof Rebecca Haque

Sculpting the Elephant is about connecting across cultures. Thank you Prof Rebecca Haque

Rebecca Haque is Professor of English Literature at Dhaka University and an inspiration to her students who want to be part of a progressive Bangladesh. I felt honoured when she offered to read Sculpting the Elephant. My novel is set in Oxford and India.

Professor Simon Altmann (Oxford) wrote a wonderful endorsement. The India of my Victorian maverick – in the historical sub plot – was undivided and included modern day Bangladesh so endorsements from Oxford and Dhaka were desirable. I waited – would she hate it? But no when it came her endorsement was more than I could have hoped. Rebecca wanted to come to the Kennington launch. When she returned from a conference in Australia she headed for the British embassy to get a visa. Our delightful government want 10 times the amount Australia charges so it wasn’t to be.( Shakespearean aside – this is the government that hopes for trade deals in Asia after Brexit!)

She was with us in spirit at the Jam Factory and Kennington because she recorded this video. I was so grateful that she also chose to read a passage – the one that led to the title Sculpting theElephant. That meant I didn’t have to read and she reads it much better than me .

Here are some pics from the Jam Factory launch.

The start of #WeTwo Amanda Fore and I (see ~WeTwo page for her story)

Joanna Harrison amd Legs Larry Smith in conversation. Joanna is currently directing the animated film of Judith Kerr’s The Tiger who came to Tea. Larry was given his name by George Harrison who wrote a song about him .

Dwina Gibb and others taking seats at the meal following the launch.

With the two ‘Deco ladies’ who inspired the character of Kathy . Next up May 2 launch at Antiques on High (Oxford ) and the Vaults for tea- join Us? (See events)

Ling and Mateja ; Watch this space-these two are achievers! Ling like Legs Larry is a drummer ( a drummer with a D.Phil ) & she has just started a band . Larry is interested in helping! Mateja is already consulted about AI.

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About the Author

Sylvia Vetta has written for the Oxford Times and its monthly magazine, Oxford Limited Edition, every month since 1998. Her ‘Castaway’ features included Shami Chakrabarti, Colin Dexter, Roger Bannister, Brian Aldiss and Sister Frances Domenica, and led to fifty of her interviewees being brought together in a book entitled Oxford Castaways, illustrated by Weimin He. She has written prolifically about art, antiques and history, and as chairman of the Friends of Kennington Library has organised literary festivals and gala evenings. She has recently finished two novels, one set in Oxford and India and the other, an historical novel, inspired by The Stars Art Movement (China 1979).